UPTRAPPER
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
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Joined: 03/31/2007
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I have a 28' TT that weighs a bit over 6000 lbs empty. I tow it now with my 2003 1/2 ton 5.3 liter chevy (3.73 rear) mostly just short distances. On the flats and small hills it tows just fine, the bigger hills I kick down to second gear and slowly make my way up. I am planning a trip from the UP of Michigan to Yellowstone and I know my truck won't make that trip. I am looking at buying a new 2500 crew cab with the 6 liter. Chevy says the truck will tow 9800 lbs with the 3.73 rear or 12,300 with the 4.10 rear. I know here in MI the 3.73 would be fine, but have no Idea how it is to tow in mountains. I am probably going to buy a car when I get this truck for a daily driver depending on how the milage on the new truck is so I will likely only use the truck for hunting and trapping in the fall and towing the camper in the summer. Would it be better to get the 4.10 rear and eat the extra gas cost or is the 3.73 enough to make a trip to the mountains every year or 2 along with my local camping? Also can anyone tell me how well the factory brake controller works or is it better to just buy a good after market one.
Thanks
2006 SALEM LE 28BGSS
2003 1500 SILVERADO 5.3L
LIFE AINT EASY FOR A BOY NAMED SUE
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Dandy Dan
Findlay, Ohio
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Joined: 03/17/2005
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UPTrapper, I am from Ohio and if I had the choice I would opt for the 4.1 rearend. When I pulled a 28' TT with a Ford 150 it had a 3.43 and I changed it out to a 4.10 and what a difference in pulling and not that much in MPG. I went to a 5er and have a Hemi with the 3.73 rearend. That is the way it came. If I was to order one, I probably would have opted for th 4.10 just because of the little bit of extra weight you can haul. Good Luck with your looking. If you like the truck that you have and don't want to trade, you can have the gears changed out in the rearend. When I had mine done for a 2wheel drive, it cost me around $550 for new gears, bearings, spacers and bolts installed. I thought this was a great deal. reference the fuel mileage, I think the difference will be small enough it wouldn't matter.
Dandy Dan
dan218b@tds.net
Dan and Lori Branson, Anna 1 (the rescue)
and Beau (waiting at the Rainbow Bridge)
2005 Dodge QuadCab 2500 4x4 Hemi
2009 Open Range 337RLS
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EnglishBulldog
Maryland
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Joined: 06/29/2008
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Dandy Dan...you had your 3.43 axle upgraded to a 4.10, and it only cost $550. Wow. Did you do it your self or have the dealer do it? I didn't think that could be done (I know very little about vehicles) but for that price, I'd be willing to pay of peace of mind...plus the additional towing weight would be nice.
TV: 2007, Chevy Silverado Crew Cab, 4x4, 3.73 axle
TT: 2008 Keystone Outback 30BHQSLE
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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On a 1/2-ton, $500 per axle is a good price for a gear change. To change the gear sets in both axles on my one-ton, it cost $1800, including $350 for the locking differential for the rear axle. I changed from 3.55 to 4.56. BIG positive difference in towing power and mileage went up too, as long as I don't drive it too fast. 
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4.56's & Lock-Rite rear
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fla-gypsy
North Florida
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Joined: 04/19/2005
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Get the 4.10, the mileage difference will be negligible.
05 Super Duty XLT CC 5.4/3.73 5 sp auto Torqshift
06 Keystone Hornet 29 RLS/(The"Cracker Cabana")
Reese HP Dual Cam
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GlacierBayGuy
Holland MI
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Joined: 05/21/2007
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Get the 4.10. It will tow better and you won't notice the difference in fuel mileage.
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eric james
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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Joined: 07/21/2004
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Get the 4.10 gears. No brainer.
2002 Trail-Cruiser 26QBH
2003 Expedition EB 5.4L/3.73
What's the weather forecast in Sioux Falls?
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reno82
Cardiff by the Sea, CA
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Joined: 04/01/2008
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I pull about 9000# with the 2008 2500HD 6.0 and 3.73 gears. I live in SoCal which means I'm going over mountians wherever I go. The 3.73 gears are fine for what you're pulling. Why go with 4.10's if you pull the mountians with that light of load rarely? The 3.73 gears are better for your normal use, the savings can be from 1-2 MPG's during normal driving, about the same mpg's for towing. I just pulled from San Diego to Utah with plenty of power up the grades in 112 degree heat. The truck handled great and I'm carrying probably about 1-2000 more # than you will carry loaded.
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wayne_tw
South Dakota/Georgia
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Joined: 07/21/2007
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The difference in fuel mileage will be small, but the towing benefits of the 4.10 gears will be greater. Since you are also thinking of a car as a daily driver, then go with the 4.10 gears you will be glad you did.
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txdutt
Parker CO
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Joined: 11/13/2005
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go with the 4.10, mine has the 3.73 which was all I could find when I was truck shopping back in July 07. The HD's have a 6 speed auto so both 5th & 6th are overdrives. The IBC is great, I had a prodigy in my 05 that I traded in...
2007 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LTZ 4WD SB Crewcab 6.0 Vortec
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Bullydog Perf Tune/Westin Chrome Stepbars
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2007 Jayco Eagle 328RLS TT-9200GVW
2007 Chevy Tahoe LTZ 2WD w/all the Toys
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